Earlier this year, Oxford and Cambridge universities were criticised for not admitting enough students from black and ethnic minority backgrounds (BAME).

At Oxford, the proportion of students admitted last year who identified as black and minority ethnic was 18% last year, up from 14% in 2013.

In 2017, there were over 12,500 applications to Oxford from UK students, but only 396 were black.

Cambridge said it admitted 58 black students last year.

Oxford ran scheme for white working class boys

It didn’t take long for some people on social media to call Stormzy’s scheme “racist” and ask where the same schemes were for white people.

Stormzy is to sponsor 2 black people for Cambridge University a year. Only black. Me as a brown guy, I’m a minority too, will he sponsor me? #stormzy#cambridgeuniversity what if a white artist did the same for 2 white students only per year?

In fact, Oxford University did run a scheme for working class white boys last year.

In partnership with the Sutton Trust, they ran a summer school aimed at white working class British boys, after research by the Trust found that only 24% of that demographic achieved at least five C grades at GCSE.

Discouraged from working while at Oxbridge

Another Twitter user pointed out that the scholarships were important for another reason: an Oxbridge education is often out of reach for people on a low income, because you’re discouraged from getting a job while studying there.

What people don't understand is that students aren't allowed to work when they are at Oxbridge. If they find out you're working you get academic penalties, it's an additional barrier for working class students especially Black ones. Good on Stormzy!

ONS data on earnings and ethnicity found that, in 2017, black households were most likely to have a gross weekly income of less than £400, or around £20,000 per year, putting them below the UK average of £27,300.

The Oxford University website reads: “We would strongly advise against you [undergraduate students] relying on income from employment to fund your studies as this may have an adverse effect on your ability to complete your course to your full potential.”

For graduate (Masters and above) students, some paid work is allowed although there may be limits on how much you can do, depending on course.

Cambridge University’s site advises students to allow “approximately £9,160 in 2018-19 for living costs in Cambridge for the year”, excluding tuition fees.

“The University takes the view that our students should not work during term-time… we offer a wide range of financial support to ensure you don't have to.

“However, there may be a few opportunities available within the University and Colleges that are an exception to this, such as working in the College bar, College library or as a student helper during open days,” the site says.